Pharmacoeconomics of Statin Therapy in Ireland

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in most industrialised countries, including Ireland. Cholesterol lowering by pharmacological intervention prevents atherosclerotic plaque progression and has been shown to prevent fatal and non-fatal coronary events in patients with and without documented coronary artery disease. There is much evidence to support the use of HMG Co-A reductase inhibitors (statins) in both primary prevention and secondary progression of cardiovascular disease. However, these medications are expensive, representing 20% of cardiovascular drug expenditure in Ireland. Pharmacoeconomics is that branch of health economics that focuses on the costs and benefits of drug therapy, in an endeavour to provide the best utilisation of a given drug budget. Due to the dramatic increase in expenditure on statin medications over the past decade, this class of medications was considered for economic evaluation in the Irish setting.